Flower Power

To go along with all of the crafting I have been doing lately, I decided my front door needed something new.  I wasn't quite ready to break out my fall stuff, so I thought I would make a flower that could go from summer into fall.  I got the idea from here and then I adjusted it a bit with what I had or could get from Wal-Mart.

So...since our Wal-Mart is awesome and always never has everything you are looking for, I had to use what they had.  Here is what I used:

I had to use a heavy fabric instead of felt.  It worked okay, but I suggest spraying it with heavy starch before you start.  For the circle, I just used some cardboard that we had around the house.  Instead of coffee beans, I used clear gem things that I found in the clearance isle at Wal-Mart.

The finished product:

Motivation Monday

We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.
     ~Sam Keen

Motivation Monday

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.

~ Zig Ziglar

I thought this quote sounded fitting for my first 'Motivation Monday' post.  It is definitely true!  haha

I decided I would start 'Motivation Monday' because I know I can always use some motivation on any day, but it seemed like Monday would be the best choice, because that seems to be when I need it a little more!

If anyone has any good sites to get quotes from, feel free to share.  I still haven't found one that I love yet.

Blah...

I don't know what it is lately, but I have just been in such a 'blah' kind of mood:/  No motivation to do anything and if I could get away with laying in bed all day, I would.  I have so many craft projects I want to do, I have stuff I can/need to do around the house, and (most importantly) I have a huge test to study for.  Maybe the studying is my issue.  I am so scared to take this test again, it's crazy!!  I have failed it twice and am terrified of failing it again.  But hey, maybe the third time is the charm, right!?!  So, to put off studying and to try to give myself some motivation, I have been looking at inspirational/motivational quotes online.  I have found some good ones!  Here is one of them:

~Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.~

~Bernice Johnson Reagon~

I have just been feeling so overwhelmed lately, and for no particular reason.  Ugh...I hate it!!  Maybe I just need a good kick in the ass:)  haha  

I am really liking reading these quotes.  Maybe I will start something like "Motivation Monday" or something?!?  Cause we all know we could use a little motivation on Monday's!!  

Hope everyone has a good weekend!  

Out With the Old...

...In with the new!

During the winter, we decided that it was time to get new windows in our house.  There was a huge draft coming in and we couldn't take it anymore.  Then, after some thinking, we decided it was time for a new roof as well.  And of course, why not build a garage while we're at it!  So, we got some bids, got a loan, and started building.

The garage was the first thing to be done.

Then (a while later) the roof and windows were done.

Then, I decided it would be nice to have a storm door on the front door.  I love being able to have the front door open to let the sun light in!

*Ignore the dirty siding and the light next to the door.  Lights are next on my list and siding is next summer's project (just don't tell Ryan!).*

So, to keep up the theme of getting new things for the house, our oven went out last weekend.  We called around and decided to buy from Wilson's Furniture in Coulterville.  I am SO excited to have a new stove!  I have been wanting one for a while, but Ryan wouldn't give in until our old one broke.

We went from this (which is now in the new garage since the cook top still works):

To this beauty:

She even has 5 burners!!  I never thought I would be so excited about a new oven, but I guess that goes with being an adult:)

Happy 3rd Birthday Austin Jay!!

So...this post is about 3 weeks overdue, but better late than never, right!?!  On July 17th, Ryan's Godson Austin turned 3!!  I can't believe he is 3 already.  He is growing up so fast and is such a fun, intelligent, handsome, funny little boy.  I love getting to spend time with him.  Since Austin's Nana and Aunt B were going to be out of town the weekend of his actual birthday, Jay and Chrystal (Austin's mom and dad) threw him a birthday party the weekend before.  The theme of the party was construction (which was fitting considering they are in the process of building a new house)!  I decided to be different and wrap his presents in plain brown craft paper and then I added some fun construction stickers.

He got a ton of new stuff to play with and everyone had a great time at the party!  Thanks for the invitation to your party, Austin!  We love getting to spend time with you and your family.  We are so lucky to have all of you in our lives!!  We love you!!

Magnetic Message Board

Earlier this summer, my mom asked me if I could make a message board of some kind that she could hang on the wall in her office.  She said she wanted it to be colorful (since the walls are plain white) and that she wanted a place to hang notes for each day.  I looked through what little craft stuff I had, but none of it was what I wanted to use.  I was in Carbondale one day and decided to stop in to Hobby Lobby.  It just so happened that they had their picture frames 50% off, so I decided I would use a picture frame for the base of the project.  As I walked around the store, I thought about what all I could do with the frame and how I could use the glass (since I didn't want to just pitch it).  Then it hit me....Magnetic Primer!!!  So...I picked up a few other things I decided I was going to need (scrapbook paper, hole punches, Collage Pauge, etc.) and I headed over to Lowes.  That is where I picked up this fantastic stuff:

I have seen this primer used on a few projects on the DIY channel and have always wanted to use it, but I never had the opportunity, until now!  This is perfect for a kids room or a space where you want to display pictures, kids art, etc.  It is super easy to use, and since it is a primer, you can paint over it in any color!!

All I did was put some craft paper down on my counter (with some newspaper under it just in case), laid the glass down on the paper, and rolled the primer on.  It was that easy!

While that was drying, I worked on the frame itself.  I used some bright colored scrapbook paper, a 2 inch hole punch, a 1 inch hole punch, a paper cutter, and some collage stuff I got at Hobby Lobby (it was kind of like Mod Podge, but cheaper).

It took my a while to decide how I wanted to arrange the paper on the frame, but this is what I ended up with:

After I was finished with that, I moved on to the clips for the days of the week.  I had some small clips at home that I wasn't using, so I decided to use those.  I cut out smaller circles and put a sticker on each one to coordinate with the days of the week.  I used the Collage Pauge to put the circles onto the clips.  Then I hot glued them on to the frame.

After everything dried, I put the glass back in the frame and then I was done!  YAY!!

Here is the finished product:

I am really happy with how it turned out!  Now my mom has a great place to keep her papers organized and to hang pictures of her wonderful daughter, son-in-law, and grandpuppy;)

Life's a Beach

Hello again!  It has been a long time since I have blogged, and I want to tell you that we have been super busy doing tons of fun things, but really I have been at home being a bum and I have just had no motivation what.so.ever!!  Sorry!  I guess I have just been in a slump lately.  So...I was loading some pictures onto my computer when I came across this one from a trip to Destin, FL a few years back:

Destin is one of my favorite places to go, and I wish I could say we were going there this summer for vacation, but no such luck:(  Maybe next year!

So...since I was yelled at informed by Kacie that I have been a boring blogger lately, I thought I would fill you in on a few things that we have been up to this summer.  I know the following posts will be LONG overdue, but remember who you are dealing with;)  I am the biggest procrastinator around, so you will just have to deal with it bear with me!!